Gap Year Fellowship

Why Join This Program?

Are you spending your gap year in Israel and looking for something more? The Smol Emuni Gap Year Fellowship will deepen your year with serious Torah learning, courageous conversations, and new friendships. Together, we’ll ask the hardest and most important questions about Israel, Judaism, Zionism, and the conflict. We will learn the history of the region, hear from activists and study early and contemporary religious zionists texts. 

  • What does it mean to be sovereign on God’s land?

  • How can Jews ethically wage war?

  • How are Israelis and Palestinians thinking about possible futures in this land?

This is a chance to learn, grow, and make your gap year unforgettable.

Ready to Apply?

Applications will open on September 1 and are due by September 21.

Please feel free to share this with friends who would be excited about this program.

Program

Program Includes:

  • 8 Friday Seminars in Jerusalem (October–May)

  • 2 Shabbatonim (late November + end of May)

  • Special tour + shared programming with Israeli Smol Emuni students

  • Transportation provided to and from Jerusalem

Fellows Will Learn

Each session brings together beit midrash study and conversations with top leaders and thinkers at the intersection of Torah, ethics, and human rights. You’ll learn leading scholer, thinkers and activists such as:

  • Mikhael Manekin – Author and activist, director of the Alliance Fellowship.

  • Hagit Ofran – Settlement Watch co-director at Peace Now.

  • Rabbanit Leah Shakdiel – Orthodox feminist leader and educator.

  • And other incredible teachers and activists.

You’ll also connect with Israeli and American Orthodox and observant peers, building friendships and networks that last far beyond your gap year.

A Fully Funded Cohort

We’re building a fully funded cohort of curious, passionate, and open-minded gap year students. Transportation, seminars, Shabbatonim, and books are all covered. You bring your questions, your voice, and your energy.

  • Mikhael Manekin

    Israeli scholar and theologian, activist and founder of Smol Emuni Israel.

  • Esther Sperber

    Architect, writer and founder of Smol Emuni US.

  • Shalhevet Schwartz

    Teaches and studies at Yeshivat Drisha. A graduate of SAR and Yale, she is a member of solidarity activist group Bnei Avraham.

  • Eliana Padwa

    A graduate of Brandeis University, she taught history before moving to Jerusalem from New York to pursue human rights activism in the West Bank through Smol Emuni and other groups.

  • Yaaqov Lawrence Shenkin

    Studied at Yeshivat HaKotel and Machon Lev and a member of Bnei Avraham. Will be acting as a Beit Midrash guide.